Dive Brief:

• The district attorney for Berkeley, CA, said Thursday she has opened a criminal investigation into the collapse of an apartment balcony that killed six young adults last week.

• Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley did not name the target of the investigation, which could lead to manslaughter charges -- or it could find no criminal negligence.

• Earlier this week, city investigators said rotted wood beams contributed to the collapse.

Dive Insight:

Segue Construction, the contractor that built the apartment complex, said it is cooperating with the investigation. That company recently paid $6.5 million to settle two lawsuits involving balconies with dry rot at other apartment buildings.

The last criminal prosecution involving a balcony collapse in California was 20 years ago, local media outlets have reported. The manslaughter charge was dismissed and the property owner paid $13.5 million to settle the case that killed 1 and injured 14 others.